Adjustable gas block

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an adjustable gas block for a gas-operated firearm, such as an AK-type rifle or pistol. The adjustable gas block enables the user to adjust the volume of gas being directed to the host firearm&#39;s operating system. In particular, the adjustable gas block includes a rotatable gas valve used to adjust the gas flow between the barrel and operating system of the gas-operated firearm.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/231,956, filed on Aug. 11, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to implementations of an adjustable gas block for a gas-operated firearm.

BACKGROUND

An AK-type firearm is a gas-operated firearm well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The operating system of the firearm utilizes a gas block that goes over the gas port of a barrel to capture propellant gas and direct that gas to a piston. As a bullet is accelerating rapidly down the barrel, it passes the gas port and gas begins to flow into the gas block where it is directed toward the piston. The pressure is high in the barrel until the bullet leaves the muzzle. The autoloading function of the firearm can be disrupted if the gas pressure is too high or too low. Unfortunately, due to ammunition variance, silencer usage, and other factors, it is very difficult to choose a gas port size which universally works under all conditions. A popular way of compensating for these problems is to incorporate an adjustable gas block into the operating system.

Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for the adjustable gas block disclosed herein. It is to the provision of an adjustable gas block configured to address these needs, and others, that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. This summary is exemplary and not restrictive, and it is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of this summary is to explain and exemplify certain concepts of the disclosure as an introduction to the following complete and extensive detailed description.

Disclosed is an adjustable gas block for a gas-operated firearm, such as an AK-type rifle or pistol. The adjustable gas block enables the user to adjust the volume of gas being directed to the host firearms operating system.

An example adjustable gas block comprises:

a gas block configured to be affixed to a barrel of the gas-operated firearm, the gas block comprising: a gas block channel, a barrel receiving channel configured to receive a portion of the barrel therein, a slot separating a bearing surface from a front end of the gas block channel, and a gas conduit configured to provide a fluid communication path between a gas port of the barrel and the gas block channel; and

a rotatable gas valve configured to adjust the flow of gas entering the gas block channel through the gas conduit, the rotatable gas valve comprising: a valve stem and a knob, the valve stem extends into a forward portion of the gas block channel and includes at least two laterally disposed apertures that can be individually registered with the gas conduit of the gas block, the knob includes an annular shoulder;

wherein the slot is configured to retain the rotatable gas valve in position and allow for its rotation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate isometric views of an adjustable gas block according to the principles of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrates exploded views of the adjustable gas block.

FIG. 5 is a side cutaway view of the adjustable gas block.

FIG. 6 is a side cutaway view of a gas-operated firearm equipped with the adjustable gas block.

Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate an example adjustable gas block 100 according to the principles of the present disclosure. The adjustable gas block 100 is configured for use as part of the operating system for a gas-operated firearm, such as an AK-type rifle or pistol.

As shown best in FIGS. 1-6 , the adjustable gas block 100 comprises a gas block 110 configured to be mounted on a barrel 104 of a gas-operated firearm 102 and a rotatable gas valve 112 used to adjust the gas flow between the gas port 106 of the barrel 104 and the operating system 108 of the gas-operated firearm 102.

The gas block 110 (e.g., fabricated of 4140 chrome-moly vanadium steel) comprises a gas block channel 116 located above a barrel receiving channel 118. The gas block channel 116 is a straight cylindrical bore having a circular cross section. The gas block channel 116 includes a forward portion 120 configured to receive the valve stem 122 of the rotatable gas valve 112 (see, e.g., FIG. 5 ). Rearward of portion 120 is a piston cup 124 configured to receive a piston head 109 of the operating system 108 therein (see, e.g., FIG. 6 ). The barrel receiving channel 118 is configured to receive a portion of a barrel 104 therein. A gas conduit 126 in the gas block 110 provides a fluid communication path between the gas port 106 of the barrel 104 and the gas block channel 116 (see, e.g., FIG. 6 ). The gas block 110 also includes a slot 148 separating a bearing surface 150 from a front end 152 of the gas block channel 116. The slot 148 is configured to retain the gas valve 112 in position and allow for its rotation.

The gas block 110 is affixed to a barrel 104 by sliding the gas block 110 onto the barrel 104 and attaching the gas block 110 to the barrel 104 with pins, not shown but well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The rotatable gas valve 112 (e.g., fabricated of 17-4 stainless steel) comprises a valve stem 122 and a knob 128. The rotatable gas valve 112 encloses the front end of the gas block channel 116, and is rotatable around an axis A relative to the gas block 110. The valve stem 122 of the rotatable gas valve 112 extends into the forward portion 120 of the gas block channel 116, and closely fits to seal against gas escape while permitting rotation. The valve stem 122 includes several lateral apertures 130 that can be individually registered with the gas conduit 126 of the gas block 110, and thereby the gas port 106 of the barrel 104. The apertures 130 each have a unique diameter. In use, by simply rotating the gas valve 112 using the provided knob 128, a user can select an aperture 130 that allows a use case (e.g., firing the gas-operated firearm with a silencer attached to the muzzle) appropriate volume of gas to enter the gas block channel 116. In some implementations, the valve stem 112 is configured to register a lateral portion thereof that does not have an aperture, thereby blocking the gas conduit 126.

The knob 128 of the rotatable gas valve 112 includes an annular shoulder 132 having an arcuate cutout 134 in the periphery that serves to provide clearance for installation and removal of the rotatable gas valve 112. In particular, the arcuate cutout 134 is configured (e.g., shaped) to allow the bearing surface 150 on the gas block 110 to pass therethrough. Several detent recesses 136 are disposed on a back side of the annular shoulder 132. These detent recesses 136 are angularly separated.

When the adjustable gas block 100 is assembled, a portion of the annular shoulder 132 is positioned within the slot 148 of the gas block 110 and captured between the front end 152 of the gas block channel 116 and the bearing surface 150 of the gas block 110 (see, e.g., FIG. 5 ).

A spring-loaded detent 114 is nested within a bore 138 positioned adjacent and parallel to the front portion 120 of the gas block channel 116 (see, e.g., FIG. 3 ). The spring-loaded detent 114 comprises a detent 138 with an angled head 146 and a spring 140 held in position by a retaining pin 144. The spring-loaded detent 114 presses against a detent recess 136 in the back side of the annular shoulder 132 of the knob 128, thereby providing tactile resistance to any rotational movement of the gas valve 112. Further, due to resistance provided by the detent 140 being held in frictional engagement with one of the detent recesses 136 on the annular shoulder 132, the spring-loaded detent 114 is able to releasably retain the knob 128, and thereby the rotatable gas valve 112 as a whole, in the selected rotational position.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in some implementations” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.

The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.

While operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. 

1. An adjustable gas block for a gas-operated firearm comprising: a gas block configured to be affixed to a barrel of the gas-operated firearm, the gas block comprising: a gas block channel, a barrel receiving channel configured to receive a portion of the barrel therein, a slot separating a bearing surface from a front end of the gas block channel, and a gas conduit configured to provide a fluid communication path between a gas port of the barrel and the gas block channel; and a rotatable gas valve configured to adjust the flow of gas entering the gas block channel through the gas conduit, the rotatable gas valve comprising: a valve stem and a knob, the valve stem extends into a forward portion of the gas block channel and includes at least two laterally disposed apertures that can be individually registered with the gas conduit of the gas block, the knob includes an annular shoulder; wherein the slot is configured to retain the rotatable gas valve in position and allow for its rotation.
 2. The adjustable gas block of claim 1, wherein a portion of the annular shoulder is positioned within the slot of the gas block and captured between the front end of the gas block channel and the bearing surface of the gas block.
 3. The adjustable gas block of claim 2, wherein the annular shoulder of the rotatable gas valve has a cutout in the periphery configured to allow the bearing surface of the gas block to pass therethrough. 